Can drier and sterilizer



Feb. 26, 1935. T v BALDWIN 1,992,460

CAN DRIER AND STERILIZER Filed May 29, 1953 za z? J bmwntoc T. K Baldwin Patented Feb. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE f, 1,992,460 I Y CAN DRIER AND STERQILIZER Truman -V. Baldwin, GenevagNi Y. Application May 29, weasel-aim. 673,52 a claims, (01. 99-18) V This invention relates to the cleansing andsterilizing of milk cans.

An object of this inventionis to provide a means and a method for sterilizing the interior of a milk can and at the same time drying out the interior of the can. p i q Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method or sterilization of the-interior of the milk cans without the use of steam or the like, which method includes raising-of the temperature within the interior of the can for a predetermined length of time.-

A further object of this invention is to pro parts together or otherwise injuring; the ,con-' struction of the can.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved combination and method which will speed up the sterilization of the can and eliminate certain processes now used, for sterilizing and for drying the interior of the can.

Theabove and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in v the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a device partly broken away and partly in section constructed according to the embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line .22 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the numeral designates generally a table or platform which is mounted on legs or supporting members 13. A burner or nozzle 11 projects through an opening 12 provided in the table top 10, and this burner 11 is connected to a fuel supply pipe 14, which fuel supply is in the form of gas or the like. The burner 11 is constructed in the form of a Bunsen burner and a pilot pipe line 15 is connected at one point to the burner 11 and at another point to the supply pipe 14 so that a constant flame will be maintained in a position to light the burner. 11. A milk can C is adapted to Ice-positioned ontop of the table loin-an inverted positionand disposed above the topof the burner ll so -that the flame from the burner ll-will project upwardly into the interior of the can C and heatthe air within this readily pass out therefrom. A blower 17 has the intake side 18 thereof connected to the supp1y'p'ipe'l4 andthe outlet side 19fof this blower generated within the'interior'ofthe can will.

1'? is connected as by a'pipe20 tothe burner 11.

A motoror power member 21 is connecteddirect by means; of'a shaft 22 to the blower 1'7, although I, of course, do not wish to be limited to any particular type of powermeans for this blower 17,"as any conventional power means may be used for the' operation of thisblowe'r. The blow er 1'7 is provided with airintake openings 23 about the pipe 14 and the connection of thispipe with the intake side 18 of the blower. 2A lever 24 :is' carried by .theblower '17 .and operates a damper 25 of conventional constructiomwhich; is adapted'to partially rotate so as to, close the openings 23'or toleave theseopenings partly open so that the. desired quantity of air .:will be mixed with the fuel passing through the supply. pipe 14 and the pipe 20 into the burner 11. j

A valve 26 is interposed in the fuel supply line 14 at a pointadjaoent the blower 1'7 and a valve operating member 27 is connected to this-valve and to a source of electric current supply by means of conductors 28 and 29. This valve operating member 27 is preferably an electrically operated member of conventional structure, and it is believed that further description of this valve operating member is unnecessary. The conductors 28 and 29 are connected to a switch 30 disposed below the table 10 and adapted to be operated by the pressure of a foot or the like.

This switch 30 is interposed in the conductors 28 and 29, which are in turn connected to a source of electric current supply. The motor 21 is connected as by conductors 31 and 32 to the switch 30 so that the closing of this switch 30 will not only automatically open the valve 26 but will also start the motor 21 whichoperates the blower 17.

In order to provide a means whereby the flame from the burner 11 will be automatically cut off after a predetermined length of time of burning,

which is supported from the table 10 as by bolts 34. This cut off member 33 is interposed in the conductors 28 and 29 by means of conductors 35, 36 and 37. This time operated cut off member 33 is of conventional structure and is shown here as is the valve operating member 2''! only diagrammatically.

In the use and operation of the structure herein disclosed, the can 0 is inverted over the top of the burner 11 with the rim of the'can engaging about the drain openings l6. The can C, when'placed on this table 10, has initially passed through a cleansing process and when positioned over the burner 11, the interior of the can Cis thoroughly cleansed of all solids but is still moist. The closing of the switch 30 by pressure of afoot or the like will automatically open the valve 26, start.

the motor 21 and set the timing cutoff member 33 into operation. The fuel discharged'from the burner 11 will be ignited through the medium of the pilot light constantly burning at the tip of the burner 11'. v r 1 Through the medium of the blower 17 and the air control 24, a non-carbonizing flame will project into the interior of the can C fora considerable distance, and'this flame will be maintained in the can C so as to'raise the temperature of the atmosphere in the can to a suflicientlyhigh degree so that all moisture within thecan will turn to a vapor, which-vapor will pass downwardly through the vent openings l6and the temperature will be sufficient to kill and remove the bacteria adhering to the inner surface of thewalls of the can. Preferably,- the'flame of the burner 11 is maintained within the can for ajperiod of from ten to fifteen seconds whereupon the cut off member 33' will out off the current to the valve operating member 2'7, thereby permitting this member to automatically close the valve 26. If

desired, this out off member mayalsobe interposed in the conductors connected to the motor '21 so that not only the valve-butalso the motor will be cut off when the flame has burned for the desired length of time within'the can.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims. V

What is claimed is:-

1. A sterilizing and drying means for cans, comprising a table, a burner secured to the table and having the upper end thereof flush with the top of the table, the flame from the burner extending upwardly into the interior of an inverted can resting on the top of the table, said table having openings therethrough adjacent said burner and within the circle of the inverted top of the can, a pipe connecting the burner to a source of gas supply, a blower interposedin said pipe, an electrically operated out off valve in said pipe, an

electric motor for said blower, a periodic cut oil means connected to said electrically operated valve and to said motor, and a manually operable switch connected to said periodic cut off means.

2. A sterilizing and drying means for cans,

comprising a table, a burner secured to the table and having the upper end thereof flush with the top of the table, the flame from the burner extending upw'ardlyinto the interior of an inverted can resting on top of the table, said table having openings therethrough adjacent said burner and withinthecircle of the inverted top of the can, a pipeconnecting the burner with a source of gas supply, a pilot means for said burner, a blower connected to said pipe and adapted to mix' air with the gas flowing to the burner, a motor for said blower, a valve in said pipe, electrically operated means for said valve, a periodic cut ofi means connected to said valve operating means and to said motor, and a manually operable switch connected to said periodic cut off means. f-3. A sterilizing and drying means for cans, comprisinga table, a burner secured to the table and having the upper end thereof flush with the topof the table, the flame from the burner extending upwardly into the interior of an inverted can resting on top of the table, said table having openings therethrough adjacent said burner and 

